Epson V550 scanner vertical line?

[Tonkatsu-Dog]

Hello all scanner experts,

My Epson V550 scanner has a problem. It creates a vertical line in most color photos... pls see below example. (B&W is OK)

Any ideas of what this is? Can I fix it with a clean up or settings ? Any advice would be welcome. This has pretty much stopped me from shooting color lately.

120 Kodak Portra 400 - 006 by Tonkatsudog, on Flickr

 

[brbo]

Clean the calibration area, make sure nothing is blocking the calibration area. If it doesn't help clean the glass from inside of the scanner, too. Blow some air over the sensor.

If you can, check the scan displaying only one of the RGB channels at the time. If the band is present only in one channel that is probably bad news.

 

[kj_]

Pretty sure it's dust on the calibration area. Ran into this myself while scanning my first roll on the scanner and almost returned it. But a quick run wipe with a microfibre cloth took care of it.

 

[Tonkatsu-Dog]

ok, tried to clean the outside of the glass both on the top and bottom and it doesn't help. Cleaning it from the inside, this is the bottom glass you mean? I guess I have to pry it open or something 🙂

 

[brbo]

Yes, the bottom glass. If V550 is anything like V500 it should be easy.

 

[Tonkatsu-Dog]

Thanks for advice all, that link to how to break it open really helped. Actually a lot easier than I though. Gave the glass inside a wipedown.

Testing to scan now a roll, I can see the same line in the previews but the end scans doesn't have it so far. Very strange, but working so far so not complaining! 🙂